3 February 2026 Ecological Landscaping for the Future

In the urban/suburban developed world, the ecosystem is often an afterthought. We go to parks and travel to be in nature after work or on weekends. If we’re lucky enough to have private land, it’s typically a tiny grass lawn that we cut weekly in the summer with maybe a flower bed or two. This is not typical to human existence historically or in other parts of the world currently. We’re living in a system of reality that is not normal or sustainable, especially as we continue to expand.

This mostly-native landscape was created with a more traditional design at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It supports pollinators while not appearing out of the ordinary.

I was lucky enough to have the experience of actually living within an ecosystem, even though I didn’t understand that at the time. I lived in a town in Nicaragua that was semi-developed and the economy was agricultural. My interaction with the ecosystem was continual, daily and embedded in every moment. I knew the phases of the moon because I used a latrine in the back yard. There was a huge frog that lived in the drain of my shower, so I used natural soap. I knew the weather patterns because my metal roof leaked. Dust storms blew into my home, since there was a ventilation gap between the wall and the roof. I ate papaya for breakfast from the tree that grew from seeds I threw out my back door. There were seasonal foods, seasonal insect pests, seasonal butterflies, seasonal utility outages, seasonal holidays and traditions within the community. Every step, every bite, every sound, every breath…was part of the natural world.

When I first moved into the little bodega, there was virtually no vegetation, only rocks and one palmera. Over my two years there, a vegetable garden and a floral garden took shape. 

Our patchy landscapes here are evidence of the disconnect that plagues our “modern” world. This area used to be a forest that bordered a Great Lake. Ecologists know that edges where two different ecosystems connect are hotspots for biodiversity. Even the name of my city, Lakewood, highlights the magical natural area where the lake meets the woods. This is why we have amazing bird and butterfly migrations that pass through. This is why we must carefully choose the plants that support life here. Wildlife, including humans, need the right kinds of green spaces to thrive. 

My own landscaping started before I knew anything about native plants. I made some mistakes and learned from them. During Gardenwalk Lakewood I got the best compliment when a little girl yelled, “Look, Mom! It’s a garden maze!” At least she understood the whimsy.

With ecological landscaping we showcase the plants that are native to this area. These plants evolved to the weather patterns of the region, so they require less maintenance to keep them alive. When they mature, they come up every year, spread out and maintain themselves with minimal human input. These plants filter water, control erosion, moderate temperature, provide food and habitat for local wildlife, and create clean air.

A monarch butterfly pollinates a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).

It’s important to consider the right plants for the right spaces so that humans and nature can easily coexist. The right plants must be in the right places. We need clear walkways and sight lines for safety. Maintenance crews need access. Plants can provide natural screens for less desirable features of the urban environment and privacy for private homes.

My coworker Sam taking measurements at a Green Infrastructure site in Cleveland. While this is visually interesting, it’s highly engineered and requires significant maintenance. About 50% of the vegetation is native.

People expecting a “traditional” suburban landscape may prefer to see clearly defined turf and mulched areas. This can be done easily with a palette of native plants. However, the changing aesthetics in the horticultural world are moving toward more natural designs that mimic the features of regional native landscapes. This calls for pocket meadows with swaths of color that changes throughout the growing season, mini forests, groupings of plants of many heights, and native groundcovers beneath trees. 

This Green Infrastructure site in Cleveland is all native plants. It tucks right into the surrounding neighborhood.

Landscaping must work with natural patterns of precipitation as well. Rain gardens, bioswales, bio retention basins, stream beds, and riparian edges are critical to healthy human life. We spend many months beneath snow, so winter interest is crucial for beauty and also overwintering wildlife.